The Portland daily press., 1887-02-22
Report of the Judiciary Committee
on Bar harbor's Water Question.
Proposal Regarding Transportation
of Passengers and Freight
by Rail.
A New Phase in the tuberculosis
Investigation.
Much interest in Cameron's Suit
Against the New York Tribune.
Cameron Gets Verdict of seooo--
The Case Appealed.

Cameron Gets Verdict of seooo--
The Case Appealed.
Especial to the Press.)
AUGUSTA, Feb. 21.
The labor committee held a final meeting
this evening in consideration of the labor
bill, which the House recommitted to them.
They did not, however, succeed in agreeing
on one measure. Two of them viii present
minority report. The majority, however,
have agreed to report. probably tomorrow,
the Looney bill, with certain changes. First
there will be added to the bill clause ex-
tending its provisions to men, as well as
to women and children, with this stipula-
tion, however, that the men may, if they
wish, make special contracts with their en-
| ployes to work as long as they please
Section A. relating TO notice of intention to
leave, is so amended that an employer may
discharge drunken or otherwise unruly
employe without previous notice.
The penalties also are reduced one-half
right through the bill, from 500 to $50, and
from $50 to $25.
The majority report does not incorporate
with the ten-hour bill the bill to establish
bureau of labor statistics, as the House di-
rected, but does arrange that the duties of
the Commissioner of Labor shall be per-
formed by the deputy of the chief of the bu-
reau of labor statistics.
The minority of the committee, Messrs.
Gushee and Burns, will probably report a
bill substituting the Heath bill, with pro-
vision that men may make a special contract
to work over time for not more than thirty
days in every ninety. 1t is understood that
neither report will allow to women or chill
dren such right to contract to work longer
than ten hours.
Bar Harbor's Water.
After very exciting session this after
noon, the judiciary committee settled, so far
as they are able to settle it, the great ques-
tion of how water is toibe furnished to-: Bar
Harbor The committee are not united on
the main question as to whether the Eden.
the new company, shall be chartered. Five
of them-Messrs. Lumbert. Manley, Dow,
Powers and Barker-unite in reporting
favorably the charter Of the Eden Company
The other five are not united on any plan.
They merely say that they cannot vote to
favor new company, as they are not con-
vinced that the Rodicks have so acted that it
would be justifable to encourage their
rivals. The charter which the five are united
on Is the bill drawn by Mr.. Barker, and it
will be reported by him probably tomorrow
This bill provides that the Eden Company
may have a charter on conditions: First,
that they shall buy the old works of the
Rodicks, provided the latter are willing to
sell, and carry on all their contracts. The
price OF these works would be fixed by the
County Commissioners of Hancock county,
and should either party be dissatisfied with
the price thus fixed there is left an appeal to
a court and trial by. jury. The sec
esnd 9nd condition IS that the new com
(who are the present Bar Harbor Water CO..
to purchase one third of the capital stock OF
the new company at the same rate as the
aeF SheFs i pay :e If the n0dckS aon00e do not
they are, with the Eden company as rival,
provided, of course, the rest of the Legisla-
ture shall agree with the five of the judiciary
committee that the Eden company should be
chartered. So much for the Eden company.
On another matter somewhat related to this,
the judiciary committee have decided to re-
port unanimously and fav0rably That is
the bill to allow the Rodcks' to increase the
capital stock of their Bar Harbor Water
dietary committee do this with the under
standing that, if the bill to charter the Eden
company shall fail in the Legislature, they
may attach to this bill for Increasing the
stock, a proposition that the Rodicks' must
furnish to Bar Harbor water supply which
shall be declared sufficient and satisfactory
by a commission of competent engineers, to
be appointed by the governor. One of the
Rodick brothers, who was seen here tonight,
said sth that should the Eden bill pass
agree to sell on these conditions.
"An appraisal" said he, would not allow
us anything like what we have put into our
works We should lose there, then when
we come to buy the third of the stock of the
new company they would charge us. more
for it than we should be allowed for our
works, so there would be an extra cash ex-
pense to us. l don't think we should have
anything to do with the new company if it
should get its charter"
a State Commerce Sill.
For some time there has been some talk of
bill something like the interstate COM
merce bill which has recently passed Con-
gress. The object is to do for Maine rail-
roads what the national bill does for rail-
roads running from one State to another
Mr.. Noble of Lewiston has been in consulta-
tion with those who favor such movement,
and tomorrow will present in the House a
bill.
The provisions of the bill as section sets
forth apply to the Transportation of passen-
gers or property or to the receiving delivery,
storage or handling of property wholly with
in this State by any railroad corporation"
| Section provides that all charges made
| for any service rendered or to be rendered in
| the transportation of passengers or property
| or for the receiving, delivering or handling
of such property shall be reasonable or just,
| and every unjust or unreasonable charge for
| such service Is prohibited.
Section 3 specifies that no railroad cOmpa-
| ny shall directly or indirectly by any spec
| ial rate, rebate, drawback or other device
| charge, demand, collect or receive from any
person or persons a greater or less compen-
sation for any service rendered or to be rem
dered," in transportation than it charges
any other persons for like service.
Section says it shall be unlawful to give
any preference to one person, firm or cor
| pOration that which is not given to another.
Section provides that it shall be unlawful
for any railroad company to charge or re-
ceive any greater compensation in the aggre-
gate for the transportation of passengers or
freight under substantially similar circum-
stances and conditions for shorter than Tor
longer distance over sthe same line in the
same direction, the shorter being included
within the longer distance.
Section provides that any company vio'
lating the provisions of this act shall be
liable to any person or persons injured there
by in an action on the case for the full
amount of damages sustained in consequence
Ofany such violation of the provisions of thi:
act together with reasonable counsel or attor
| ney 5 lee 10 De uA6u NY bnC COuIl IN tfbI1
case of recovery which attorneys fee shall
be taxed and collected as part of the costs IN
the case.
For the Relief Of Bangor and Belfast
The financial committee will report bill
providing that when railroad is leased 4
another road, the State tax on its stock shal
be returned to the cities and towns wher'
that stock is owned, and not be distributed
to cities and towns where is held the stock o
the leasing road. This bill is to relieve Ban
gor and Belfast, which once received return
from the tax, one on the European d Nortl
American stock, and the other on the tax il
the Belfast branch stock. When the Main
Central leased these lines, however, the tw
cities ceased to get their share of the Stat
, tax, the distribution being to other cite
and towns where Maine Central stock wa
held.
Against Foreign Corporations.
A bill will be introduced tomorrow, amend
! ing the laws so that Il foreign corporation
coming into the State for charter, shall
required to have paid in 25 per cent of il
? capital stock. This law is aimed at thos
} companies that are organized in this Stat
: with the payment of very little, if anything